Lock



Feb. 7, 1939. E, A, ZUBER 2,146,134

LOCK

Filed Jan. 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3 Hw 40 z' .2

Feb. 7, 1939. E A ZUBER 2,146,134

Loox

Filed Jan. 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 6/ l i U|||||||||||||||||||| 'EQ 7 63 Vw y I 3 L mf /L/ 1 65. 27 3f za 23 i .54 Jafar/zeg Patented Feb. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,146,134 Lock Ernest A. Zuber, Chicago, Ill.; Marie Stressler, executrix of said Ernest A. Zuber, deceased Application January 7 Claims.

The invention relates to time locks, especially adapted for use with that type of lock known as Combination or permutation locks.

t is well known that yespecially in vault lock combinations tumblers are provided which must be turned in a certain direction and to a certain extent, so that gradually the recesses in said tnmblers coincide before the bolt can be Withdrawn from locked into idle position. According to the present invention, even after the tumblers have been properly actuated, the bolt is not released for movement into open position, although the lock comes to a stop, until the lapse of a predetermined period oi time whereby unauthorized y persons even though knowing the proper combination are misled into believing that the lock cannot he opened, and thus unauthorized or surreptitious opening of a safe or vault is effectively prevented.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in combination with a bolt and the means for actuating the same, means operated by said actuating means for releasing said bolt for actuation at a predetermined time.

A further object embraces the provision of means for varying the time during which the actuating means is retarded to effect complete opening of the lock.

A further object aims at providing automatic means for retarding the actuating means and moving the bolt from the locked into opened position.

Another object aims at providing gravity acting means for retarding the release of the bolt.

A still further object aims at providing certain details vof construction and arrangement tending to enhance the effectiveness and reliability of a device of the character described.

With these and other equally important objects in view which will become apparent from a perusal of the invention, the latter comprises the means described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part thereof, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front view of a safe to which my invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with parts in different positions.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

4, 1935, .Serial N0. 348

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 of a variant form.

7 is an inside View of adoor and lock of a :further lniodication.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the lock illustrated in Fig. '7 with parts broken away.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig, 7.

Fig. 1I) is a section taken along the line i--Iil of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line II-ll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 isa plan View of still a further modication.

Like parts are illustrated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to Figs. i to 5 of the drawings, Ifl designates the door of .a safe provided with a lock generally designated by I I which may be secured to the door for example, by screws I2. Rotatable in the lock is a gear I4 which may be formed integral with an external shaft I5 to which any suitable knob or handle I6 may be secured. In mesh with the gear I4 is a rack bar I'l, herein shown as cylindrical in shape and slidable in a cylindrical chamber I8 in the lock II. Rotation of the rack I 'l is prevented by means of a pin I9 engaging a slot 2B in the rack bar. Secured to the uppermost end of the rack bar is a slotted lifting member 2l which engages a head 22 of a plunger stem 23. Secured to or integral with the stem 23 is a piston 24 fitted in a chamber 25 formed in the lock II. Thelock is further provided with an additional chamber 26 closed by a plug y2'l, while a plug 28 closes the chamber 25. At the lower end the chambers 25 and 26 are in communication through a passage 36 controlled by a ball valve 3|. A by-pass 32 establishes additional communication between the chambers and a set screw 33 extends therein to regulate the flow of liquid 34 from one chamber to the other. Access to the screw 33 for adjustment may be had by removing the screw 35 and plug 36 which are in alignment with the adjusting screw. The chambersf25 and 26 are further connected by a duct 31 adjacent the plugs 21, 28 and above the level of the liquid to which it possibly could rise. Seated upon the head 22 of the piston stem 23 is a locking bolt 38, projecting through a bushing 39 in the lock II.

Assuming that the parts of the lock are in the unlocked position, as illustrated in Fig, 4, clockwise rotation of the knob I6 and associated gear I4, as viewed in said gure, will cause the rack bar 20 to rise and by means of the member 2i lift the piston 24 and also the locking bolt 38 into locking position, illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, with the bolt 38 projecting inside and above the opening of the front panel 40 of the vault. 'Ihe rise of the piston 24 causes a partial vacuum and the liquid ows from the chamber 26, past the ball valve 3| intothe chamber 25.

In order to open the door l0, the knob |`6 and gear l are rotated counter-clockwise until the rack bar. 26 assumes the position illustrated in Fig. 4, however, the length of time necessary for the locking bolt and piston to descend may be varied between two minutes and approximately` Ysaid sliding member are so positioned, that, when ten 1nours depending on the adjustment of the se screws 33.

Only after the locking bolt 38 has cleared the wall 4|) of the vault can the door be opened.

As will be readily understood, the locking bolt 38 and piston 24 are of sufficient weight to force the liquid 34 back into the chamber 26 through the by-pass 32.

In place of the knob I6 I may employ a barrel lock 4| illustrated in Fig. Goperable by its key 42. The barrel lock may be secured by any suitable means to the door I0. For an illustration I have provided the barrel lock with a screw threaded sleeve in screw threaded relationship with the door I0. A pin 43 secured to the rotatable barrel 44 serves to rotate the gear I4. The importance of the invention will thus become evident as the unauthorized opening of a vault, safe, chest and the like is effectively prevented.

In Figs. '7 to 11 modifications are illustrated.

The time lock housing 5|! is similar to the lock housing but, instead of the rack bar |1, I have employed a locking bolt 5| slidable in :a correspondent recess 52 and held against rotation therein by a pin 53 in engagement with a vertical slot 54.

The locking bolt 5| controls an aperture 55, through which a pin 56 of any suitable vault locking member 51 may be thrustv by means of the customary external handle, which rotates a gear 58 in engagement with the rack 59 associated with the vault locking member 51.

It will be realized, that if the locking bolt 5| is in the position illustrated in Figs. '1 and 8, the vault locking member 51 is held in locking position. The bolt 5| prevents lateral movement of the member 51 to the left until a recess 60 in the locking bolt 5| is in alignment with the aperture 55 into which the pin 56 may recede suiciently to permit the prongs 6| of the locking member 51 to clear their corresponding apertures 62 and thus unlock the vault door 63 of a vault or safe 64.

I have illustrated in Figs. 7 to ll modified means for raising the locking bolt 5|. A sliding member 65, slidable in a slot 66 in a bearing block 61 is provided with a slotted lifting plate 61B, one slot embracing a reduced portion of the piston stem 23 of the piston 24 and a second slot engaging a reduced portion 69 of the locking bolt 5|.

It will be seen that the sliding member 65, the piston 24 and thelocking bolt 5|, move in unison. The sliding member 65 is raised by means of a pin 16 on a gear 1| rotatable on a pin 12, a second gear 13 in engagement with the gear 1| may be rotated by meansV of an external knob 14 and shaft 15.

The device illustrated in Figs. 7 to ll may be employed with any suitable combination lock 8|) (Fig. 12) in which a plurality Vof tumblers 8| are utilized for effecting a predetermined setting of said tumblers, before a locking bolt 82 can be Withdrawn sullcient to permit lateral movement of the vault locking member 51 into unlocked position, when the recess 60 of the locking boltV 5| is again in alignment with ther pin 56 of the member 51.

The timing mechanism above referred to may be actuated by means of a shaft 83 normally employed for setting of the tumblers 8| and manipulated by means of any suitable dial 84, to which a driving member 85 is secured including a pin 86, which serves to raise the sliding member 65 to its uppermostV position. Y

- It will be understood that the parts for raising the locking member 82 is in the unlock-ed posi- Y tion, the pin 86 is sufficiently lowered to permit the sliding member 65 to assume its lowest or unlocking position.

While the drawings show preferred embodiments of the invention, numerous changes and` variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not limit myself to details of construction and ari rangement as shown, but claim my invention as broadly as the state of the art permits. K

I claim: f

1; In a lock, an external locking control means having an unlocked and a locked position, a bolt,

a piston mountedvertically in a chamber and so connected to said bolt that bolt and piston reciprocate sympathetically, a fluid inlet into said chamber with'check valve, a fluid outlet from'said chamber, fluid in the system, and a single locking having an unlocked and a locked position, a bolt,

a piston mounted vertically in one of two parallel chambers and so connectedk to said bolt that said bolt and piston reciprocate sympathetically, said chambers being connected at their bases by two passages, constituting respectively an inlet and an outlet for the piston chamber, a check valve preventing back flow in the inlet passage, an adjustable valve controlling the rate of flow in the outlet passage, sufcient uid to overflow both passages regardless of the position of said piston, and a single locking train responsive to the unlocked or locked position ofl said external control means and engaging said bolt only upon a locking movement, whereby on a locking movement, said bolt is locked, the piston sucks iiuid into its chamber, and on an unlocking movement, the bolt is unlocked as the piston by gravity expels the fluid from the chamber past the adjustable valve. Y

3. In a lock having a bolt, a piston mounted vertically in one of two parallel chambers and so connected to said bolt that the bolt and piston reciprocate sympathetically, said chambers being connected at their bases by tWo passages, constituting respectively an inlet and an outlet for the piston chamber, a check valve preventing back flow in the inletpassage, an adjustable valve controlling the rate of flow in the outlet passage, sufficient fluid to overflow both passages regardless of the position ofthe piston, and a single locking train adapted to control the locking movement only of said bolt.

4. In combination with a separately controlledY bolt train, a blocking member responsive to the unlocked and locked positions of an external control means, said blocking member adapted to retain said separately controlled bolt train in locked position when said external control means is in locked position, and an hydraulic retarding mechanism comprising two parallel chambers, said blocking member being mounted vertically and piston-like in one of said chambers, said chambers being connected at their bases by two passages forming a fluid circuit through the piston chamber having one direction only, and an adjustable valve in said uid circuit for controlling the rate of flow from the piston chamber.

5. In a lock having a bolt, a 'piston mounted vertically in one of two closed chambers and so connected to said bolt that the bolt and piston reciprocate sympathetically, said chambers being connected at their base by two passages, constituting respectively an inlet and an outlet for the piston chamber, a check valve preventing back flow in the inlet passage, an adjustable valve controlling the rate of ilow in the outletl passage, suiiicient fluid to overilow both passages regardless of the position of the piston, a single locking train adapted to control the locking movement only of said bolt, and a third connecting passage between the upper portions of said chambers unflowed by Huid whereby said piston may reciprocate uninfluenced by air pressures.

chamber, in the second chamber a vertical locking piston having a shoulder engaged on its lower side by the driving piston, inlet and outlet passages between the second and third chambers, fluid overflowing both passages, a ball check valve in the inlet passage to assure one-way flow, and an adjustable control valve in the outlet passage.

7. In a lock, a casing comprising an open vertical chamber in which reciprocates a driving piston and two closed chambers, in one closed chamber a locking piston having a shoulder engageable on its lower side by said driving piston, said closed chambers being interconnected by three passages, one being an inlet passage at the base of the locking piston chamber with a check valve to prevent back flow of uid, a second passage being an outlet above the inlet passage and having therein a needle valve to control rate of flow, and a third passage into the upper portion of the locking piston chamber, and fluid overflowing at all times the two lower passages only, whereby on a locking movement of the driving piston, as the locking piston rises the first closed chamber is lled with Iluid, and upon an unlocking movement of the driving piston, the locking piston by gravity expels the fluid from the first closed chamber past the needle valve at a predetermined rate.

ERNEST A. ZUBER. 

